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Youth Ministry

Program Overview
Courses

Gain skills to foster effective work with youth and families throughout the world. Lipscomb University's College of Bible & Ministry offers a bachelor's degree in Youth Ministry that focuses on what a healthy youth ministry looks like, equipping you with the knowledge and training you need.

This program is designed for individuals seeking to work with youth and families, but it is helpful for those who want to work with youth outside of the church. Throughout this degree, you will learn:

How to welcome families into the spiritual care of children and youth
Family science behind this work
Congregational dynamics

Take your training outside of the classroom, as well. Network with local youth ministers at our monthly luncheons on campus and at the internship fair each year in November. Attend the Next Generation Youth Ministry conference hosted at Lipscomb.

You will be equipped to lead a healthy youth ministry within a church with key skills, such as managing a ministry budget, preparing curriculum, addressing family complexities and spiritually caring. This program is designed to create well-rounded ministers who are prepared to spiritually care for youth, in whatever context they find themselves.

Program Foundations

Our Youth Ministry bachelor's curriculum addresses theology, biblical foundations and spiritual care. It has the strongest focus on practical ministry with courses like The Youth Ministry Program, Family Ministry, and Educating Children and Adolescents in the Church. The training students receive through this program provides key knowledge, such as systems theory and how the intricacies of relationships within churches and families affect your ministry.

Capstone Projects

Courses

Individuals pursuing a degree in Youth Ministry will take the following courses for a total of 60 credit hours.

BI 2283 Explorations in Ministry
BI 2713 Church History I
BI 2723 Church History II
BI 3203 God, Creation, and New Creation
BI 3513 Introduction to Children’s, Youth, and Family Ministry
BI 3523 The Youth Ministry Program
BI 3533 Educating Children and Adolescents in the Church
BI 3543 Family Ministry
BI 3673 Teaching Scripture
BI 3813 A Theology of the Church
BI 3823 Christian Spiritual Formation for Community
PL 4013 Philosophy of Religion
BI 4503 Old Testament Interpretation
BI 4513 New Testament Interpretation
BI 4973 Senior Seminar
BI 4Dn3 Bible Text Intensive (3) Fall (Old Testament), Spring (New Testament)
BI 4S7V Family & Congregational Dynamics
FS 3503 Family Dynamics

Contact Information

College of Bible and Ministry, Admin

Olivia Jaques
Director of Student Affairs and Recruitment
(615) 766-3499
Olivia.Jaques@lipscomb.edu

Job placement

With a top-tier university education on your resume, you’ll be in high demand, whether you choose to launch your career or begin graduate school. Most of our programs have a placement rate of at least 90 percent within six months of graduation.

Expert faculty, small class sizes

Learn from award-winning, experienced faculty who actually care about you. Our small class sizes allow us to get to know you personally. We lead an approachable community within our respective programs. Our faculty connections are the experts on their subject matter, too.

Nashville, TN

A big city. An even bigger opportunity. We consider Nashville, Tennessee, an extension of our classroom, and as a leading city in many industries, that means you’ll gain experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else.

Our Faculty

Jp Conway

Assistant Bible Professor of Christian Ministry

J.P. grew up in Nashville. After high school at Ezell Harding Christian School, he studied at Abilene Christian University (BA in Youth and Family Ministry) and interned two summers at...
Meet Jp Conway
Walter Surdacki

Professor

Walter teaches various Youth Ministry and practical ministry courses. He completed his undergrad studies at the Institute for Christian Studies (B.A., 1990), and graduate studies at Pepperdine University (M.S....
Meet Walter Surdacki
Lauren White

Assistant Professor

Lauren Smelser White has served as Assistant Professor of Theology at Lipscomb since 2018 and teaches various undergraduate and graduate courses in Bible and systematic, historical, and contextual theology. She...
Meet Lauren White

Career Paths

Youth Minister

A youth minister offers mentorship and guidance to support the healthy development and spiritual maturity of the next generation of leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Family Minister

A family minister works with families to help parents and their children experience spiritual flourishing through deep, enduring connections with God, the church and the Bible.

Middle or High School Bible Teacher

Middle and high school Bible teachers work primarily in private schools to instill knowledge of the Bible and manage student learning in an encouraging classroom environment.